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| Year 8 Golden Eagle Trip Blog |
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Keep up-to-date with Year 8 . . . Saturday 19th June Leaving Eagle House at 1.00 pm we sped down the M25 sttopping at Maidstone Services to meet our two drivers Terry and Steven. On to Dover and we get a rescue call from PGL - please can we pick up Richard (PGL groupie) from the harbour as he has been left behind by a previous coach. No problems getting into the port - French customs always obliging - and we drive straight onto the Sea France 3.45 pm sailing. After a choppy crossing we are in France - hurrah! It is cold and damp and we hope that our journey south brings better weather. The coach becomes our home and the miles roll by. And the miles and the miles and the miles! Kids are excited by a motorway stop. The fact that they can buy pasta and have it microvaved seems to be a source of fascination for many on our coach! Darkness sets in and I manage to listen to the entire Frank Sinatra back catalogue as sleep is hard to come by. The coach rumbles on and there is quiet until Terry pulls into a service station and the sleepers are suddenly full of life. Sunday 20th June At 8.10 am we drive into Camp Mimosa, greeted by our PGL groupies and unload the coach. The sun is out but the wind seems to blow hard. we go S straight into our tented village and then a welcome breakfast of fresh fruit, croissants, bread and cereals. We get a tour of the camp but are told that the wind is too strong for sea activities. This doesn't affect us as we are due to go to the beach for a splash session. We get kitted up and walk down to the acres of sand and the blue Mediterranean. Lining up we all race into the sea and race out again! It is not in itself cold but the wind sends a wave of hypothermia through us! The hardened ones stay in the water and play whilst others enjoy the beach. After lunch we are back on the sand for a massive game of football, digging, sun bathing, splashing and enjoying the wonderful beach. This is the perfect way to get rid of the coach journey and though tired, everyone is happy. Late afternoon back to our village and supper, then games (crazy ones) and finally the disco. I write this as the music of S Club rings around our ears and most our boys look disgruntled! A great day and I hope a good night's sleep. Monday 21st June It is a cloudless sky this morning but the wind is very strong and the PGL beach team decide that the water is too dangerous to do any activities on the sea. This is a shame especially as the sun is out. The morning activity is archery and initiative games. We hope that the afternoon will allow us to go snorkelling and have some beach time. Everyone has had a good night's sleep and is feeling refreshed it is just disappointing that we can't do the activities planned - nevertheles the Eagles are happy and we are having fun. The afternoon brings us to Cap D'Agde - a thirty minute ride on the coach to a busy beach where we seem to be a source of Gallic amusement / anger as we make our way to a space onto the beach to get into wet suits and do some snokelling. The water is cold but the sun is hot and we are split in to two groups to either be on the beach or in the water. Everyone is up for the snorkelling but some don't stay in too long! There is time to catch some rays - don't worry factor 30 is out! A good afternoon and interesting to see the entire French population on the beach too, some revealing more than a 13 year old should see!! Don't panic I gave a quick LFL lesson on cultural differences in how we dress on the beach in the European community. Back to Mimosa and food before a very good evening activity of Superherto Auction - don't ask a silly game involving dressing up in bin liners! A shower and off to the disco before bed. We have heard that the wind will drop tomorrow. Everyone is having fun! Goodnight!
Hello Mum - we're all fine! (Nat's not in this picture - getting changed!)
Tuesday 22 June Some night adventurers had alerted PGL security as some of our group tried to break the world record in seeing how many children could fit into a PGL tent. So far the record is 20 at 1.00 am! Some sheepish faces were to be seen around the 'village' for most of the day. Today was beautiful, sun, less wind and glistening sea. The activities today (and yes the beach was open) were fun boats and banana boat riding. This was the beach at its best. A fierce sun today and sun cream was not an option although we are all a little red after the day. No complaining though as the weather has been perfect - what a day! Evening activity was back to the beach for a range of fun games before heading off to the disco and then bed - all quite tired and as I write this at nearly midnight peace reins in the camp. Tomorrow we move onto Segries and the Ardeche, stopping off at Avignon on the way. A good day - we'll be sad to say goodbye to the Mediterranean.
Wednesday 23 June We have left Mimosa and are now in the heart of the Ardeche. We departed about 9.30 after an interesting packing experience. How can so many socks be unclaimed after just 3 days? We decided to spend a few hours in Avignon and the journey there was about 2 hours and took us to the heart of this medieval city. After a packed lunch on the banks of the Rhone we wandered into the city. The main objectives were find a loo, buy food and have a look around. Time passed quickly and we got back on the bus to drive to the PGL centre at Segries. A beautiful drive through wine growing country and towns lit by the hot sun. Arriving at the centre we were warmly met and given a quick tour before having dinner (hearing the football score! Hooray!) and settling into the farmhouse where we are accommodated in dorms. Everyone is fine and has had a good day. Tomorrow we venture onto the river. As I write this we are about to start our evening activity. There has been a massive football game and the evening sun is still warm. |
